Officially called the AFFA EMS National Pilot Program, this project was initiated to develop a measurable mechanism for monitoring and evaluating Environmental Management Systems (EMS) systems in various horticulture enterprises throughout the Mount Lofty Ranges watershed (east of Adelaide in South Australia).

Sponsors

The Mt Lofty EMS project was one of 15 projects funded by the Natural Heritage Trust under the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry's (DAFF) EMS National Pilot Program.

The Steering Committee for the project was made up of the project partners:

• Apple & Pear Growers Association of SA (Lead Agency)
• Adelaide Hills Wine Region
• Cherry Growers of SA
• Onkaparinga Catchment Water Management Board
• South Australian Wine and brandy Industry Association
• Adelaide Hills Regional Development Board
• Cooperative Centre for Viticulture

 Government partners were:

• Primary Industries and Resources SA
• Environmental Protection Agency (Watershed protection Office)
• CSIRO (Land and Water Policy and Economic Research Unit)

Although initiated by local producers and industry bodies, this project attracted a group of enthusiastic apple, pear, winegrape and cherry growers from throughout the region. Of the 32 businesses involved, 20 were involved in winegrape production, 11 in apples, 11 in cherries and 4 in pears.

Aims

The overarching aim of the project was to assist participants to improve their business sustainability through better management of environmental impacts and increased production efficiency.

In particular, the project sought to provide information that could:

1. Be used to enhance Program management.
2. Measure and guide the implementation of EMS projects.
3. Quantitatively and qualitatively assess the performance of the Pilot Program against the usefulness of EMS in bringing about/introducing desired on-ground environmental change.
4. Contribute primary information to the benefit-cost evaluation of EMS to provide private and public benefits at the farm, industry, and catchment levels.
5. Be used to inform policy development on EMS.
6. Measure and improve (in the short and long runs) the effectiveness and efficiency or the overall process, the quality and quality of the outputs and outcomes, as well as the attainment of goals (through measuring them using the Goal Attainment Scaling tool).

Methods

A multi-method approach was adopted by the MT Lofty EMS Project. Participants were recruited through the project partners and were involved in a range of workshops, interest groups, field days, special meetings and site visits and individual support. At each step of the way, the process was documented and the learnings incorporated into draft tools and resources. The final products (incorporating the feedback from project partners and participants) are available on this website. The process used to achieve this was the Continuous Improvement Cycle – Plan, Do, Check, Act. The diagram below outlines this model.

Project Achievements

During the final workshop, project participants were asked to identify any significant benefits, achievements and/or changes to their business practices as a result of their involvement with EMS. Below is a summary of the extensive list that was produced.
Professional and Personal Benefits
Improved understanding of business legal requirements.ƒn
Better business management practices. ƒn
Increased environmental awareness of the impacts of their actions.
Reinforcement of the value of existing management practices. ƒn
Greater knowledge of the value and type of monitoring practices and tools available. ƒn
Better record keeping. ƒn
Group interaction – widened knowledge and perspectives.
Better planning skills.
Increased environmental focus in business decisions. ƒn
Assistance in gaining EurepGap accreditation. ƒn
Valuable tool for overseas market development.
Greater involvement by staff in the business.
Increased awareness of NRM activities. ƒn
Greater personal understanding and fulfillment.
Improved business and property sustainability.
Improved risk assessment, operating and emergency procedures.
Saved time and money.

Practical Changes or Actions

Enhanced understanding of soil and water issues.
Increased water use efficiency. ƒn
Improved irrigation monitoring and practices.
Implementation of better woody weed control programs.
Biological control of pest weeds.
Improved chemical storage, fill and washdown facilities.
Reduced or modified chemical use.
Watercourse restoration.
Use of reed beds as environmental filters.
Improved native vegetation management.
Improved waste management and storage practices.
Increased use of recycling / composting.
Changed orchard ecologyƒ|
Improved equipment management.
Dams resealed to prevent erosion.

Process & Challenges

One of the many challenges faced in implementing this project was bridging the ‘Farmer-Catchment Disconnect’. As part of the National EMS Pilot Projects, EMS was being trialed by various industries in a range of locations throughout Australia. For many pilot projects, EMS is seen as a potential tool to assist primary producers to improve their business’ long-term sustainability while also contributing towards NRM improvements in the region in which they operate.

Based on individual property-level risk assessments, participants in the Mount Lofty Ranges Watershed (MLRW) EMS Pilot Project made some significant on-ground improvements over the three years of the project (see Participants’ Achievements To Date). Once this was done, the project then sought to address the ‘farmer-catchment disconnect’. For EMS to be able to deliver strategic environmental outcomes that address regional NRM priorities, there needs to be enhanced two-way communication between landholders and catchment managers. To achieve this, the team expanded so that it could draw upon a greater depth of expertise.